Gun mounting and display system and methods of performing the same

ABSTRACT

A weapon mounting unit including a rigid structure having a front surface, rear surface and an opening extending from the front surface to the rear surface, a grommet in the opening in the rigid structure, a retraction unit secured to the rear surface of the rigid structure, a tethering unit retractably secured to the retraction unit on a first end and to a weapon on a second end, and a weapon mounting unit secured to the front surface of the rigid structure that is configured to mount the weapon on the front surface of the rigid structure.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and the priority from U.S. provisional Application No. 62/019,529 filed Jul. 1, 2014 entitled GUN MOUNTING AND DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHODS OF PERFORMING THE, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shooting sports have become very popular with many different people. Purchasers of firearms require the firearm to meet their shooting needs and their shooting style. The weight, balance, look and feel of the firearm are important attributes examined by firearm purchasers to determine if a firearm is appropriate for purchase. For security reasons, firearms re kept behind glass cases and require store staff to remove and show a firearm. This is very burdensome and requires the use of multiple employees to show firearms to customers.

A need exists for a system that will allow purchasers of firearms to view and handle the firearms before the firearm is purchased.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a weapon mounting unit including a rigid structure having a front surface, rear surface and an opening extending from the front surface to the rear surface, a grommet in the opening in the rigid structure, a retraction unit secured to the rear surface of the rigid structure, a tethering unit retractably secured to the retraction unit on a first end and to a weapon on a second end, and a weapon mounting unit secured to the front surface of the rigid structure that is configured to mount the weapon on the front surface of the rigid structure.

In another embodiment, the tethering unit is affixed to the trigger guard of a gun.

In another embodiment, the weapon is a handgun.

In another embodiment, the rigid structure is a table.

In another embodiment, the mounting unit includes a rigid plate.

In another embodiment, the mounting unit includes a front mounting unit that engages a front portion of the weapon.

In another embodiment, the mounting unit includes a rear mounting unit that engages a rear portion of the weapon.

In another embodiment, the front mounting unit is U shaped.

In another embodiment, the rear mounting unit is a bar.

Another embodiment discloses a method of displaying a weapon including the steps of affixing a mounting unit on a rigid structure having a front surface, rear surface and an opening extending from the front surface to the rear surface, installing a grommet in the opening in the rigid structure, affixing a retraction unit to the rear surface of the rigid structure, retractably securing a tethering unit to the retraction unit on a first end and to a weapon on a second end, and securing a weapon mounting unit to the front surface of the rigid structure that is configured to mount the weapon on the front surface of the rigid structure.

In another embodiment, the tethering unit is affixed to the trigger guard of a gun.

In another embodiment, the weapon is a handgun.

In another embodiment, the rigid structure is a table.

In another embodiment, mounting unit includes a rigid plate.

In another embodiment, the mounting unit includes a front mounting unit that engages a front portion of the weapon.

In another embodiment, the mounting unit includes a rear mounting unit that engages a rear portion of the weapon.

In another embodiment, the front mounting unit is U shaped.

In another embodiment, the rear mounting unit is a bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Details of the present invention, including non-limiting benefits and advantages, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a weapon extendedly attached to a rigid structure suitable for use with the methods and systems consistent with the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts the retraction unit mounted to the rear surface of the rigid structure;

FIG. 3 depicts the weapon pulled away from the rigid structure with the tethering unit extended away from the retraction unit;

FIG. 4 depicts one embodiment of a grommet;

FIG. 5 depicts the tethering unit extending through the grommet;

FIG. 6 depicts one embodiment of the weapon attached to a rigid surface;

FIG. 7 depicts a plurality of weapons mounted to a rigid structure;

FIG. 8 depicts the tethering unit secured to the weapon by a loop securing unit

FIG. 9 depicts one embodiment of the weapon mounting unit;

FIG. 10 depicts the mounting unit of FIG. 9 mounted to the rigid structure; and

FIG. 11 depicts one embodiment of the loop securing unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While various embodiments of the present invention are described herein, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Described herein is a system for mounting and displaying a weapon, such as a gun, on a rigid structure, such as a wall, to allow a potential purchaser to hold and handle the weapon without detaching the weapon from the wall. The system provides for a retractable tethering unit that allows for extension and retraction of the weapon from the rigid structure.

FIG. 1 depicts a weapon 102 extendedly attached to a rigid structure 100. The rigid structure 100 may be any rigid structure including a wall, a display rack or any other rigid structure. The rigid structure 100 includes a front surface and a rear surface with the weapon 102 being extendably affixed to the front surface of the rigid structure 100. The weapon 102 is extendedly attached to the rigid structure 100 by a tethering unit 104. The tethering unit 104 maybe any extendable semi rigid material including wire, Teflon, rubber or any other solid material capable of securing a weapon to the rigid structure 100. The weapon 102 is supported on the rigid structure 100 by a weapon mounting unit 106 which is secured to the front surface of the rigid structure 100. The tethering unit 104 is retractably secured to a retraction unit (not shown) affixed to the rear surface of the rigid structure. The tethering unit 104 passes through the rigid structure 100 via an opening and a grommet 108.

FIG. 2 depicts the retraction unit 202 mounted to the rear surface of the rigid structure 100. The refraction unit 202 includes a biased wheel (not shown) that allows for the tethering unit 104 to be pulled in a direction away from the retraction unit 202 in one motion, and to be pulled into the retraction unit 202 in an opposite motion. FIG. 3 depicts the weapon 102 pulled away from the rigid structure 100 with the tethering unit 104 extended away from the retraction unit 202. FIG. 4 depicts the grommet 108. The grommet 108 includes an opening 402 extending the length of the grommet 108. The opening 402 has a diameter that is sized to accommodate the diameter of the tethering unit 104. In one embodiment, the diameter varies along the length of the grommet 108. The outer sidewalls of the grommet 108 includes securing units 404 that secure the grommet 108 to the opening in the rigid structure 100 through which the grommet 108 is placed.

FIG. 5 depicts the tethering unit 104 extending through the grommet 108. FIG. 6 depicts one embodiment of the weapon 102 attached to a rigid surface 100. FIG. 7 depicts a plurality of weapons mounted to a rigid structure. FIG. 8 depicts the tethering unit 104 secured to the weapon by a loop securing unit 802. The loop securing unit 802 allows a first portion of the tethering unit 104 to pass through the loop securing unit 802 and a portion of the weapon 102 with the end of the tethering unit 104 begin removably secured to the loop securing unit 802.

FIG. 9 depicts one embodiment of the weapon mounting unit 106. The weapon mounting unit 106 includes a mounting plate 902 that is affixed to the front surface of the rigid structure 100. A rear weapon resting unit 904 is secured to a first side of the mounting plate 902 and a front weapon resting unit 906 is secured to the opposite side of the mounting plate 902. In one embodiment, the front weapon resting unit 906 is substantially “U” shaped and the lower portion of the U shape engages a front portion of a weapon. In another embodiment, rear weapon resting unit 904 includes a bar having a first stopping unit and a second stopping unit with the bar engaging a rear portion of a weapon. FIG. 10 depicts the mounting unit 106 of FIG. 9 mounted to the rigid structure 100. FIG. 11 depicts one embodiment of the loop securing unit 802.

In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims. 

1. A weapon mounting unit including: a rigid structure having a front surface, rear surface and an opening extending from the front surface to the rear surface; a grommet in the opening in the rigid structure; a refraction unit secured to the rear surface of the rigid structure; a tethering unit retractably secured to the retraction unit on a first end and to a weapon on a second end, a weapon mounting unit secured to the front surface of the rigid structure that is configured to mount the weapon on the front surface of the rigid structure.
 2. The weapon mounting unit of claim 1 wherein the tethering unit is affixed to the trigger guard of a gun.
 3. The weapon mounting unit of claim 1 wherein the weapon is a handgun.
 4. The weapon mounting unit of claim 1 wherein the rigid structure is a table.
 5. The weapon mounting unit of claim 1 wherein mounting unit includes a rigid plate.
 6. The weapon mounting of claim 5, wherein the mounting unit includes a front mounting unit that engages a front portion of the weapon.
 7. The weapon mounting of claim 6, wherein the mounting unit includes a rear mounting unit that engages a rear portion of the weapon.
 8. The weapon mounting unit of claim 6, wherein the front mounting unit is U shaped.
 9. The weapon mounting unit of claim 7, where the rear mounting unit is a bar.
 10. A method of displaying a weapon including the steps of: affixing a mounting unit on a rigid structure having a front surface, rear surface and an opening extending from the front surface to the rear surface. installing a grommet in the opening in the rigid structure; affixing a retraction unit to the rear surface of the rigid structure; retractably securing a tethering unit to the retraction unit on a first end and to a weapon on a second end, securing a weapon mounting unit to the front surface of the rigid structure that is configured to mount the weapon on the front surface of the rigid structure.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the tethering unit is affixed to the trigger guard of a gun.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the weapon is a handgun.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the rigid structure is a table.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein mounting unit includes a rigid plate.
 15. The method claim 5, wherein the mounting unit includes a front mounting unit that engages a front portion of the weapon.
 16. The method of claim 6, wherein the mounting unit includes a rear mounting unit that engages a rear portion of the weapon.
 17. The method unit of claim 6, wherein the front mounting unit is U shaped.
 18. The method of claim 7, where the rear mounting unit is a bar. 